Most of you are enjoying a leisurely Easter long weekend. I do hope you’re spending time with family and friends, enjoying good food and good cheer.
Today I’m going to introduce to you Skinos, a liqueur made from mastic (mastiha) gum. 
Mastiha is a resinous sap produced from the trunk and branches of the Mastic tree. The mastic sap is extracted by scratching the surface of the tree with a sharp implement. The sap falls to the ground and becomes crystalized into little nuggets, referred to as mastic tears.
The mastic used for Skinos and also the most cherished of mastic tears come from the Greek island of Chios (Hee-YOs). Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, located in the Aegean Sea, just 5 miles from thecoast of Turkey.
The southern part of the island is the only part of the island where mastic production occurs. The collective of villages that produce mastic are known in Greek as the Mastichohoria or literally translated as Mastic Villages. Mastic production in the Mastichohoria has occurred since the Roman period and it is said that Masticha only grows on the Southern part of the island, due to the volcanic soil content.
Today, mastic is used in pharmeceuticals to combat upset stomachs, gastrointestinal disorders and ulcers and there are many applications of mastiha in the cosmetics and beauty care industry. The Mastiha Shop has an extensive website that goes in depth into the history, production and applications of production. It was really a good read!
Mastiha is also used in Greek cuisine in breads (my family includes Mastic in our Greek Easter bread called Tsoureki), cakes, desserts and some savoury dishes as well. The mastic tears are ground and then incorporated into a particular recipe.
Elma brand chewing gum contains mastic as it’s properties help to also fight bad breath. Mastic has a floral aroma to it, quite pleasant in my opinion and as for the taste…that’s more difficult to explain.
You see, mastic is also used to produce Mastixa liquour which is as strong as Ouzo, looks like Ouzo and one coud say tastes similie to Ouzo but without that “anise” flavouring.
When I was a teenager tending bar for a family gathering, I made the mistake of serving our Parish priest with Mastiha when he asked for Ouzo! The two apertifs are similar in flavour and they also stand alone in their taste. Greeks who enjoy either Ouzo or Mastiha are usually divided into two camps (preferring one to the other).
Myself, I’m partial to the anise flavouring of Ouzo but I do also enjoy Mastiha and in particular, today’s focus of my post…Skinos Mastic Liqueur. Skinos is the ancient Greek word for Mastic tree and although the Mastiha aperatif has been around for ages, this liqueur is a relative newcomer on the scene.
The Skinos liqueur is the product of pot distillation. That is to say, the alcoholic vapours coming of the bulk of the liquid are condensed above the liquid on the still outlet, on the way to the condenser.
Skinos is sweeter and contains less alcohol than the usual Mastiha found in Greek tavernas and homes. I first had the pleasure of sipping this drink during a recent visit to Toronto’s Greektown, known as “the Danforth”.
Simply grab a tumbler, throw in some ice and pour yourself a good shot of Skinos. Add a slice of lemon and sip this refreshing liqueur – savour it! For me, this drink works best as an after-dinner digestive…think of it as an alternative to Sambucca. Not as sweet, more complex in flavour, very different, floral and most refreshing with the lemon slice.
Here in Ontario, Skinos is on offer through the LCBO stores and I found my bottle at the store located on the Danforth, just east of Broadview.
In the coming days, I’ll be showing you more ways to incorporate Mastic in your food and drinks. My family’s Greek Easter Bread contains mastic, I’ll be showing you some sweet and savory dishes with the use of mastic and I’ll even throw in some cocktails using Skinos!
I’m sending this drink out to my friend Nicole of Art & Aoli who’s celebrating her blog’s Anniversary. Bring an appetizer or beverage by April 13th and give her a shout-out….tell her Peter sent ya!
Sthn Ygeia Mas (To Our Health)!
NOTE: Your favourite Greek food store will carry Mastiha. Here in Toronto, my friends at Greek House on the Danforth sell Mastiha.
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© 2007-2009 Peter Minakis
very interesting post about masticha – i’d never heard of skinos before, and i’m not partial to ouzo-type drinks, but this is one i’d like to try
I love coming here because I always leave learning something new. :) Have a great weekend, my friend.
Thank you for the mastic 101 course! I could so use a drink about now…
I just heard about mastic for the first time the other day. It sounds really interesting. I am going to have to head down to Greek town to pick up the liqueur and to see if I can find the crystals.
Peter, Can’t wait to see your Greek Easter feast! I am excited!
An interesting liquor!
Happy Easter!
Cheers,
Rosa
So many uses for mastiha! I’ve personally never tried the drink before…can’t wait to see it used in some recipes!
I haven’t seen mastic here, but there are jars of a white, mastic flavored preserve in the international deli.
What would that be good for?
Look so nice Peter!! Happy Easter. Gloria
Although I am not much of a drinker I enjoy the liqueur once in a while. I’ll have to look for skinos next time.
Very interesting post!
Στην υγεια μας λοιπον !
Δεν εχω δοκιμασει τη συνγκεκÏιμενη αλλα μ’αÏεσει μετα το φαγητο !
Thanks for the primer on mastic. As you know, I’ve got a jar sitting in my pantry just waiting for inspiration — so I’m looking forward to your future posts on the subject.
I use masticha liquor in many ways.
Cakes, muffins, tsourekia etc.
Skinos looks a very interesting liquor!!
Thanks for the read. I had never seen mastic gums before.. I had heard so much about it. didn’t know one could make liquor with it!
The mastic is really beautiful. Thank you for explaining it’s uses. Your posts are always quite interesting!
Peter, I love you new header and just know that though I may not comment on every post, I do read all of them.
Happy Easter!
Thanks for the lesson, I did not know about this.
Love your new graphics.
I’ve been visiting my family out of town so I have a lot of catching up to do, looking forward to reading your previous posts.
LL
I have tried mastic icecream and submarines but I would love to try this beverage.
How totally cool Peter. I love learning about different food/drink I am unfamiliar with. I’ve been to Greece but have never heard of this. Thanks!
–Marc
This is MY KIND OF POST and you know it Peter!!! Cheers! I love it!
Interesting post! I don’t much care for alcohol myself, other than for cooking, but I love learning about things I don’t know about. Thanks for the primer.
Thank you for the great lesson! I read your post out loud to Zach, it was so interesting and informative! Too cool!
Another informative post. I’ve never had this before but I am sure I’d like it.
Now I am on a mission to find this liquor. Hopefully I can be successful because it sounds like something I would really enjoy.
i needed some mastic after my waaaaay-too-large easter meal. :)
Never had this before, but it sounds like delicious drink.
Cheers,
elra
I have always wondered about this ‘ mastic’ stuff. I have heard it is also used to flavor Turkish Delight, would that be true. They sell it at my local supermarket but the text is written in Greek which I can’t read. Thanks for tute!
Yes, It’s true Kate. Some Turkish delight is flavoured with mastic.
Thank you for sharing the delights of Greek cuisine.
Got my first every bottle of Skinos, here in QC on the weekend, my 14 daughter took a sip and remarked it tasted of carrots….. so I added a teaspoon over justed steam carrots and the heavens sung…
WOW, outstanding !
Hope you give this a try….
I have some tears somewhere in the back of the pantry – so keep on posting I’ll find them soon :-)
THanks – very informative post. I had heard of mastic but was a little vague on what exactly it is. Had also never heard of the liqueur before – thanks for filling us in!
This is the most amazing liqueur ever! We just came back from Greece where we had it almost every day :) I’m trying to find it in LA now. Thanks for a very informative post!
SKINOS will be available soon in the US!
I used to be addicted to mastic gum but now those (thieves from Jordan) call it “mastic” but they put some kind of fennel in it. In Beirut, I looked for Mastic gum, niet! What is going on? Is Greece hoarding it?
I remember pulling the sap of some trees as a kid, mixing it with candle wax and chewing on it for hours. Was it mastic? I don’t know but I want my mastic gum back!